Mail-box lock.



S. SQUILLER. MAIL BOX LOOK.

APPLIOATIOF mum MA1L17, 1914'.

1,103,701. I Patent ed July 14, 1914.

I H E 7 I /6 awe/MM 6mm flamuel jqm'Z-Ze? SAMUEL SQUILLER, OF MGKEES ROCKS, PENNSYLVANIA.

MAIL-BOX LOCK.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented July 14, 1914:.

Application filed March 17, 1914. Serial No. 825,327.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, SAMUEL S UILLER, a citizen of the United States, residing at McKees Rocks, in the county of Allegheny and State of Pennsylvania, have invented new and useful Improvements in Mail-Box Locks, of which the following is a speci fication.

The invention relates to looks, and more particularly to the class of safety locks for use on mail boxes.

The primary object of the invention is the provision of a lock wherein the same can be only manipulated from within the box, and this is accomplished by the use of a novel form of key, thus rendering the box practically burglar proof.

Another object of the invention is the provision of a lock wherein the make-up of the mail box need not be altered to allow the fitting of the lock thereto, the lock being of novel form and possesses few parts, thereby obviating disorder, and which will enable the ready and easy locking and un locking thereof, this being only effected by the possessor of the key.

A further object of the invention is the provision of a lock which is extremely simple in construction, reliable and efficient in operation, and inexpensive in manufacture.

With these and other objects in view, the invention consists in the construction, combination and arrangement of parts as will be hereinafter fully described, illustrated in the accompanying drawing, and pointed out in the claim hereunto appended.

In the drawing :-Figure 1 is a perspective view of a mail box with the lock constructed in accordance with the invention mounted therein. Fig. 2 is a vertical transverse sectional view showing the lock in accordance with the invention. Fig. 3 is a sectional view on the line 3-8 of Fig. 2. Fig. A is a perspective view of the key.

Similar reference characters indicate corresponding parts throughout the several views in the drawing.

Referring to the drawing in detail, A designates a mail box, which may be of any preferred form, having a hinged front or end door B and a letter slot C, the latter permitting the deposit of mail within the box, while the door, when opened, permits access thereto for removal of the mail matter therefrom. Slidably fitted on the inner face of the door is a locking bolt 5, the same in this instance being removably supported in guide loops or brackets 6 which are fastened to the door B in any suitable manner and are spaced from each other so that the bolt will be guided to looking or unlocking position. Formed in the door B is an elongated slot 7, and likewise formed in the bolt 5 is an elongated slot 8, the same being adapted to aline with each other and through which is inserted the key for the looking or unlocking of the bolt in a manner hereinafter fully described. In the in- .ner face of the bolt 5 are spaced parallel grooves 9, the same being disposed longitudinally of the bolt and are gradually tapered to form abutment shoulders 10 with which engage the free ends of leaf springs 11 which work within the said grooves 9 and have their opposite ends riveted or otherwise fixed to the inner faces of the door. These springs 11 when engaging the shoulders 10 serve to hold the bolt 5 in locked position, the leaf springs 11 being outwardly curved to ride over and engage the shoulders 10 when the bolt has been moved to locking position for locking the door closed. At opposite sides of the slot 8 in the bolt 5 are holders 12 which extend transversely through the said bolts in alinement with the springs 11 so that on the use of the key the said springs will be forced out of the path of the shoulders 1.0 for the retracting of the bolt to unlock the door.

The key comprises a shank 13 having at one end oppositely extending arms 14. at right angles to the shank, which arms are bent to form pins or lugs 15, which are parallel with the shank 13, while the opposite end of the shank is formed with a loop 16, and on inserting the key through the slots 7 and 8 in the door and bolt respectively, the key is turned so as to bring the pins or lugs 15 into registry with the holes 12, whereupon an outward pull is exerted upon the key, which forces the pins or lugs 15 into the holes 12 for engagement with the springs 11 to force the same out of the path of the shoulders 10 and from the grooves 9 in the bolt. Now, on moving the key while an outward pull is exerted upon the same toward one end of the mail box A the bolt will be thrown to unlocking position, thus per mitting the door to be opened for access to the latter. After the door has been closed the bolt is moved in the reverse direction by the key, and on the removal of the key from the slots the springs Will engage the shoulders 10 on the bolt, thereby looking it.

From the foregoing it is thought that the construction and manner of operation of the device Will be clearly understood, and therefore a more extended explanation has been omitted.

WVhat is claimed is In a look, a sliding bolt having a keyreceiving slot and holes at opposite sides thereof, resilient members arranged in the path of the holes and engageable With the bolt to hold the same in a locked position, and a key insertible through the slot and having means insertible in the hole to dis- 15 place the resilient means for freeing the bolt.

In testimony whereof I afiix my signature in presence of tWo Witnesses.

SAMUEL SQUILLER. \Vitnesses: Y

JOHN S UILLER,

his TOM SQUILLER.

mark

(Jopies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner 0: Patents,

Washington, D. G. 

